Radnor School Board and K-5 Math

UPDATE: RTSD Curriculum Committee, ARE YOU LISTENING?

A large group of parents attended the RTSD curriculum committee meeting, on 11/11/2014 after not getting answers and/or action from board at the 10/28/2014 School Board Meeting. We had been advised by Eric Zajac, school board president, and the rest of the board that this would be the proper forum for our concerns.

The recurring message from our School Board has been, “We Hear You” and “We are listening” to your concerns. However, we were approached prior to the meeting last night and asked to keep our comments to a minimum, to not talk if we had spoken at the last meeting, and to not have anyone repeat anything that had already been said, so that we would be mindful of the agenda and the time constraints. In fact, we were cut off during public comment due to the meeting ending. Kimm Doherty, handed out yellow cards and suggested we put our comments on them so that the board could “hear” us.

When the board repeats the concerns they have heard back to us, the recurring theme is that parents aren’t able to help their children with the homework because it’s not the way we learned. Obviously, they have not understood the problem, or our concerns. And maybe if we were permitted more then a small window of public comment to address our concerns, then they would understand the problem.

In a nutshell, Everyday Math, a reform math program, was a deviation from traditional math education that was developed by the University of Chicago’s Math School Project. It failed. You can read here the letter written by a mathematician and signed by 200 mathematician’s urging the Secretary of Education to rescind it’s stamp of approval from the Everyday Math curriculum. All of our area schools have dropped Everyday Math because they know it failed and is not a good program for our K-5 students. Radnor is holding onto it, WHY? I have speculation, but not definitive answers. Reform Math failed, but we continue to fail our students by keeping it in the Radnor Township School District.

The board asked Maureen McQuiggan to present on the curriculum review and selection process. She outlined for us what the district does during its normal curriculum review process, while it was informative, it showed us that the district and the school board are not taking our concerns seriously, they are doing business as usual while they continue to, “listen” to us. The board and the district have not expedited a review, in fact they are holding off on the process until January/ February when Kelly Murray returns from maternity leave.

This makes me wonder what happens when the citizens of Radnor speak up, does the board listen?

On March 11, 2014 during a curriculum committee meeting a parent came to the board meeting to address concerns with the Everyday Math program in our K-5 classrooms. In Attendance were Kimberly Doherty, Lydia Solomon, Charles Madden, Susan Stern, Dr. Kim Maguire, Dr. Michael Kelly, James Kearney, Joan Cusano, Dan Bechtold, Dr. Joseph Cannella, Dr. Maureen McQuiggan, Dr. Anthony Stevenson, Carla Skuchas (Teacher Rep.), four teachers, four members of the public. The board “listened” to a parent speak about,

K-5 math is inadequate for struggling math learners.

You can read it in the minutes here.

On March 12, 2013 during a curriculum committee meeting a parents came to the board to address concerns with the Everyday Math program in our K-5 classrooms. In attendance were, Kimberly Doherty, Charles Madden, Lydia Solomon*, Dr. Kim Maguire, Dr. Anthony Costello, Kevin Kane, Karen Daugherty, Jim Kearney, Carla Skuchas (Teacher Rep.), Dr. Joseph Cannella, Anthony Stevenson, Haley Butler, John DeAngelis, Andrew Maoury, Joan Cusano, The board “listened” to a parent’s concern and the parent:

Requested evaluation of Everyday Math

You can read it in the minutes here.


So last night was a big disappointment, the same people in attendance listening to the same concerns with the same responses. But, we’re not done. Stay tuned!

You can read more, http://radnorandeverydaymath.blogspot.com/